Electi (discontinued)

Capitulum 3

The cold breeze of an impending spring storm blew by, bringing with it the scent of fresh leaves and moist soil. Beck shivered a little and Quinn took off his hoodie for her. She never expected her conversation with this mysterious boy to be so interesting. So when she heard a noise in a nearby bush, she winced, a little disappointed at the interruption.

"Did you hear that?" She asked, a little tensed.

Quinn looked in the direction she stared in. He tilted his head and squinted; the sky was growing a little dark, confirming his suspicions about the storm. "Oh, it's nothing. Probably the wild animals  here to eat out the soft, juicy organs of our body." He turned to her, letting out a bright grin.

She leveled a look on him and his mouth straightened. "That's not funny, Quinn. Besides, you'd taste awful."

"A. . . Are you. . . afraid? And I'd taste awesome, by the way. I look awesome, so I'd taste it."

"No, I'm not, and I really doubt that." She took a glance at her watch and saw how much time she'd wasted out here. "Omigosh, look at the time. Gotta run."

"Wait, what?"

"I've got school tomorrow, I have to go. Here, boy." Streak rushed toward her.

He stood, looking at her squarely. "OK, yeah. You should go."

"See ya?"

"I don't think so."

She nodded and smirked, perhaps a little sadly. "Goodbye, then."

"Goodbye."

When she'd gone, Quinn sat and waited some more. I have to find the strength to go home, it's getting dark. Still he procrastinated a little more.

Truth was, the leaves Beck had applied to his wounds made him feel a lot better, but he wasn't entirely enthusiastic to go back to Probus where he would await his death sentence.

He planted his chin in his palm, at loss for what to do next. As he was about to arrive at the decision of drowning himself in the river before him, he heard the bushes move once more.

"Who's there?" He demanded spinelessly. It couldn't be a wild animal as he'd so carelessly jested, could it? So far, he'd counted himself lucky that none had crossed his path although he'd made Beck believe a few had. But the twin moons were coming out and the forest was coming to life. Maybe it would be better if he let a wild animal kill him.

The bushes moved again. "Who's there?" He reiterated more firmly this time. Could it be? "Beck? Is that you?"

Voices came from afar off. At first it was unintelligible speech, but soon enough, he could make out a few words. Then he heard his name in a familiar, unmistakable voice.

"Father," Quinn breathed, standing up.

"Son," Lucien returned, his face set in a scowl. How could his own son do this to him? Didn't he know he was already under scrutiny by the Council? Then he pulled a childish stunt such as this, to prove what exactly? That he could make him worry? Over his decaying carcass!

Quinn lowered his eyes in embarrassment for a while. Fortunately for him, his father had pulled together a search and rescue team the second he realised Quinn was missing. Quinn looked at his father and realised he was not dressed in his armour, but in a long, flowing robe; his Council meeting attire.

"Quinn Foster Halls, what were you thinking?"

His mind raced with what he could tell his father.

I took a nap and wound up here? Nah.

I closed my eyes and spun around. Then I walked in the direction I faced? Mmmm, maybe.